This year marks the first ever Cowboy Culture Extravaganza to be held Saturday, October 18 at the East Bay Regional Park's (EBRP) Sunol Regional Wilderness. Planned as a one-day celebration of the heritage and culture of the American Cowboy, the festival will feature cowboy music and poetry amidst a beautiful outdoor setting. Enjoy hayrides, roping, pioneer crafts, slideshows, food for sale and demonstrations with a Western theme. Come see pioneer cooking skills such as horehound candy making, Dutch-oven cooking and homemade ice cream cranking. Arts and crafts will include quilting demonstrations and fun projects for the kids.

Sunol Regional Wilderness has a rich heritage in ranching and cattlemen. Five local ranchers currently lease lands at Sunol Regional Wilderness, Ohlone Regional Wilderness and Mission Peak Regional Preserve. EBRPD tenants and staff will be on hand at the festival to provide information on the practices of grazing, and its benefits under proper stewardship management within our public lands.

Sunol Regional Wilderness's resident stable operator, Western Riding Services, will provide a brief seminar on horsemanship, giving visitors more of an insight of the close working relationship that has endured many centuries between man and equine. Look for appearances by the Alameda County CattleWomen.